SPARROW STREET, 93min,. USA
Directed by Billy Jack
A typical suburban neighborhood is plunged into a nightmare as an invisible, monstrous force begins picking the neighbors off, one by one. The terror outside the house is no match to the terror that forms inside the house where survival, isolation, and hunger all play tricks of the mind for a man, an expectant wife, and their unborn child. The film begs the big question and the great reveal – What is eating the neighbors?

https://sparrowstreetfilms.com/
https://instagram.com/sparrow_street_movie?igshid=MzRIODBiNWFIZA=

Get to know the director Billy Jack & writer Justin Cole:

BILLY – We wanted to create a product (Sparrow Street) that entertains people, and we achieved this based on the data from our test screen and feedback from audience members. Very exciting for us and for those who get the chance to experience this story.

JUSTIN: We wanted to scare the heck out of audiences by fusing environmentalism and horror in a completely ridiculous and unseemly way. We think we did that with Sparrow Street. It is a film like none other ever made. Think about the idea of an environmental horror – the time is rife for this kind of emerging idea. That’s the story we are telling. Mankind vs. Nature in a completely original, unique, and distinctive point-of-view. Our hope…blow the minds of our audiences. Leave them reeling with thought and meaning. That’s ultimately why we made this film.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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AMEND, 19min., USA
Directed by Jianna Maarten Saada
Rachael lives an isolated existence, haunted by an unspeakable past. But when a young boy upends her tightly controlled world, she’s forced to face her own demons.

https://www.amendshortfilm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/amendfilm
https://twitter.com/amend_film
https://instagram.com/amend_film

Get to know writer/producer Belinda Gosbee:

I was so desperate to express what I was feeling about gun violence in America. As a foreigner (Australian) I was constantly in a state of disbelief/anger/fear/confoundment over the gun issue. And that nothing was being done. And then I read an article about some survivors from Columbine and it was very eye opening. I felt horrified that I’d never thought about them before. We all react heavily to the event and then things go back to the status quo and these people who are deemed to be the “lucky ones” are left with a life that is barely a life at all in many cases. I mean the suicide rates are very high and even decades later many survivors have not been able to move on and live their lives. And that’s just the emotional trauma. Some have severe injuries that physically prevent them from truly “living” as well.

The trauma is almost insurmountable and there are very little resources to even begin to help them (though some organizations are starting to crop up today). They’re like combat vets who never left their “safe” American towns.

So I started thinking about what that might look like. How might it completely destroy your life? What if you tried to run away and it just kept following you? How might guilt and PTSD consume you? The memories? What if no one in this “new” life you’ve created even had an inkling of what you’ve experienced? And what if the very thing you were running from (the thing you once loved – kids) was the very thing that suddenly turned up in your life. What if they were the only way forward?

I was always adamant that this film needed to be about the aftermath of gun violence, about survivors. Not the event. But when we did finally show a peek of the “event” it would be minimal. Terrifying but extremely restricted.

What I loved was that our director, Jianna Maarten Saada, absolutely took that up a notch. She was like – “It’s all in the sound” and she was spot-on. If you rewatch the ending you’ll realise how very little you are actually seeing outside of Rachael’s face but the SOUND is leading you astray. The sound design (Thanks, Jeremy Jardine) is what’s truly terrifying you in those seconds.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE PENCIL, 10min., USA
Directed by Thomas Calvin Schultz
Sara, a struggling artist who discovers a unique pencil that can solve all her problems. But her dreams turn into a nightmare when a malevolent demonic creature from Kazakh legends gets unleashed.

https://thepencilshortfilm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thepencilshortfilm
https://www.instagram.com/thepencilshortfilm/

Get to know writer/director Madina Baimakhanova & director Thomas Calvin Schultz:

My wife and I always wanted to do a project together, and in fact it was one of the very first conversations we had when we had first met each other. When the opportunity arose we decided it would be a great time to have a short family/friends project in Kazakhstan where we would be traveling for a month.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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FLOAT ON HOPE, 5min., USA
Directed by Debra DeNicola, John DeNicola
Float on Hope reflects on our feelings of how we are leaving planet Earth to our children and fellow beings. We thought the idea could be illustrated through the eyes of a young mouse that lives in the Amazon rainforest near Manaus, Brazil. The Mouse from Manaus can represent any living being on this earth that will be affected by the escalating global perils of Climate Change. John DeNicola’s music inspired lyricist Jason Stutts to write about his sadness of how we are leaving our planet to our children. Jason was reminded of music that affected him like Neil Young’s After The Gold Rush and the possibility of having to find another place for humanity to live. After a few months of searching we came across the amazing animation of Jenna Shot.

https://john-denicola.com/

Get to know director John Denicola:

John Denicola (Director / Songwriter / Musician): We thought that the song “Float On Hope” from my album She Said with its message regarding Climate Change was an important song to have a video to represent it. We had talked about a character The Mouse From Manaus to represent the Amazon before and thought it would be a great opportunity to make an animated video to voice our concerns about what could be done regarding climate change in a unique way that matches the music . We looked at many animators for many months that could convey that and when I ran across Jenna Shot I knew we had the right artist for this story. The lyrics of the song helped write the script.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE FIVE STAGES, 12min., USA
Directed by Jessica Orcsik
Eva Allen is a recently single, devastated young woman. She enters a black box theatre being filled with well-dressed and put together people, laughing and drinking. A variety act performance is about to begin.

http://www.diversitypictures.org/
https://www.instagram.com/thefivestages_

Get to know producer/actor Hannah Carman:

At the time of making the film, I was studying full time as a student at the American Arts Film and Television Academy in their full-time Actors Conservatory, and had moved at the age of 18 to Los Angeles all the way from Australia. It was an incredible experience, but also a big emotional rollercoaster. Amid going through all these new emotional challenges, I felt motivated to make a film that explored the complexities of more challenging feelings like loss and sorrow. My coproducer Jess Orcsik and I felt that there was no better way to do that than structuring a short film using the five stages of grief.

I also was really set on making a film that incorporated musicality, as I’m a singer and was surrounded by some amazing singers and dancers that loved musicals like I do.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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MISSING IN THE MIDWEST, 18min., USA, Documentary
Directed by Harper Brock
Filmmaker Harper Brock journeys back to her roots to learn what happened to her cousin Joelle Lockwood whose 2014 abduction case shocked southwestern Indiana.

http://missinginthemidwestdocumentary.com/
https://www.instagram.com/missinginmidwest/

Get to know the filmmaker;
My family, both my parents and extended family in Indiana really pushed for me to do this project as my student thesis at SCAD. I don’t think I could have done it without their support.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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FREE SPEECH TO CANCEL CULTURE; PROFILES IN CANADIAN COMEDY, 96min., Canada
Directed by William Davern
Ten veteran comedians and TV personalities share insightful, often hilarious tales of the comedy business and the shifting attitude(s) of audiences.

http://www.davernproductions.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

I’ve been a touring stand up comic for 25 years. Am also a film school graduate and recipient of the Norman Jewison Award for a short drama now part of the National Film Board of Canada. Over the years, I made several shorts including an unsold pilot for TV along with three 22 min “Profiles” of the local comedy scene.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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ECHO, 15min., UK, Family/Fantasy
Directed by Jo Southwell
Echo, tells the story of Alice, a young woman so traumatized by the loss of her baby that she shuts herself off emotionally from her partner and retreats into a fantasy world where she is able to connect with the essence of the child she lost, who we call Echo. After an elaborate underwater game of hide and seek, which clearly fills her with joy, Alice comes to the realization that she must make a choice; sink down into the dark water with Echo, or come up for air where Tom is desperately searching for her.

https://www.astonmgt.com/aston-productions/
http://twitter.com/josouthwell
https://www.instagram.com/jo_southwell1

Get to know the filmmaker:

Echo is the story of loss. My journey began after I had a miscarriage..many years later when I was writing, the story of Alice appeared on the page! I have written Echo in many different versions – originally as a short story but from the moment Sara at Troy TV agreed to produce the screenplay – about a year until we were in production. Post production then took place over an additional four months. Creating Echo was no easy task and we had so many super talented people on board who all wanted to be part of the journey but it took time.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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BEYOND THE DOOR, 12min., USA
Directed by Gregory Klino, MJ Palo
When a man buys a cuckoo clock for his wife, he discovers that there is more behind the cuckoo’s door than just the cuckoo.

Get to know writer P. James Norris:

I took Aaron Sorkin’s Masterclass on screenwriting in 2018 and our first assignment was to adapt a short story as a no more than 10 page screenplay. I don’t remember remember how I stumbled across Philip K. Dick’s 1954 short story, “Beyond the Door”—I know I was searching for stories in the public domain, and I think I was searching for Philip K. Dick stories in particular as he has got to be the most adapted American writer, period.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqBN0uGKVkA

It’s 1953 and Helen Parker’s husband has been MIA in Korea for 18 months. When a local bully graffiti’s her white fence, handy woman Lou Taylor shows up to paint the fence and steal her heart. In the end Helen must decide on which side of the fence to live.

Get to know the writer:

The White Fence is a period drama set in the early 1950s during the Korean War. Helen Parker’s husband George is an Air Force Captain who’s been MIA for 18 months. Forced to move off base and into her father’s home, Helen has a run-in with a piano mover who graffitis her white fence. When local handywoman Lou Taylor offers to paint the fence, it sets the women down a path from friendship to passion. Eventually Helen has to navigate dealing with the local bully, the fate of her husband, and the love of her life while navigating the homophobic scrutiny of the time.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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WHISKERED AWAY, 5min., USA
Directed by Gale Smith
When a stray cat sets out on a quest for a home, she encounters a witch who seems to be the perfect owner… maybe too perfect. She must decide whether to turn a blind eye for the sake of her newfound family.

https://whiskered-away.weebly.com/
https://www.instagram.com/galeanimation/

Get to know the filmmaker:

I have always loved working with animal characters. My pets were some of my very first drawing inspirations. When it was time for me to brainstorm my thesis film, Jinx came to me first. I loved this little black cat so much that I had to create a story around her. Because black cats and animals with disabilities struggle to get adopted, it evolved into a story about looking for a family and resisting those who prey on the vulnerable.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME, 70min., USA
Directed by Daniel Wolff
Undeterred by decades of prejudice, post-Katrina neglect, and ongoing appropriation of their traditions, three generations of the extraordinary, multi-talented Harrison family guard their legacy and define what Black masking culture means in New Orleans today.

https://www.guardiansoftheflamemovie.org/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088184293417

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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HOUSE OF MYSTIC MAGIC, 4min., UK
Directed by Alexander Miguel
In the House of Mystic Magic you will find all sorts. Creatures from Heaven to Hell and anything in between. Depicting a variety of scenarios all playing with the concept of the deadly sins, we showcase Mystic Magic’s fascination with dark, animalistic luxury couture. In today’s society more than ever the deadly sins powerfully elucidate some of the core emotional drivers of human behaviour which we explore in this avant-garde style short film.

Get to know the filmmaker:

I’ve long been fascinated by the use of fashion within film. Coming from a place where my dream was to direct music videos, I found an alternative outlet for my creativity in the form of fashion films. It wasn’t that long ago that fashion films weren’t commonly recognised as it’s own genre, and now it is truly blossoming and everyone has jumped on the trend! I am good friends with the designer of Mystic Magic, and together we decided to make this art video to promote his designs, and my filmmaking.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHnJ6IoYEig

When the Chosen One abandons their quest, the world turns to… someone.

Get to know the screenwriter:

I worked on it off and on for about 6 months. The first draft was done in a week or two but I needed to do research to get the dialogue just right and experiment with the characters’ personalities.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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ON DEAF EARS, 13min., US
Directed by Ty Hunt
A mother’s worst fear comes true when her special needs daughter’s actions are misunderstood during a routine traffic stop.

https://www.facebook.com/phyllgoodent
https://www.instagram.com/phyllgoodent/

Get to know Portia A. Cosby:
I have a daughter with special needs, and the scenario in the film has always been a concern. What happens if her processing time and level of understanding lags in an intense or critical situation? I decided to finally write about it in 2020 after the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor killings occurred.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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GIVE US A SMILE, 13min., USA
Directed by Alessia Fionda
A humorous retelling of the sitting of the Mona Lisa featuring the master himself, Leonardo da Vinci and his not so talented pupil, Alessio.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20850030/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
https://instagram.com/alessiafionda

Get to know the filmmaker:

I was motivated to make this film because the script I had written encompassed everything I love. Women’s issues both past and present, art history and of course my favorite, comedy. The Mona Lisa is the most recognizable and discussed piece of art in existence, yet there is little to no information regarding the subject of the painting, Lisa del Giocondo. I wanted to add a colorful reinterpretation of what could have happened during the sitting. Also, I deeply wanted to play the character of Mona Lisa and challenge myself from an acting perspective.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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HATE CAN KILL, 30min., Canada
Directed by Imtiaz Popat
Hate Can Kill is a documentary by Imtiaz Popat that looks at the community response to the murder of Nirmal Singh Gill, a caretaker at the Guru Nanak Gurudwara in Surrey BC by five white supremacist skinheads in 1998

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064075958428

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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GOODBOY, 40min., USA

Directed by Ashley Mosher

When a woman’s beloved dog, Kenya, is diagnosed with terminal cancer during the Pandemic, the adventurous photographer attempts to outrun the dog's death and stumbles into the haunting childhood memories of her dying Father. Facing the painful decision on how to handle Kenya’s life, she must reconcile her fear of death and learn herself how to sit, stay, and heal.

http://www.ashleymosher.com/

https://www.facebook.com/validandrequired

https://www.instagram.com/validandrequired/

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVZUTousLAA

An aspiring screenwriter who struggles to support his family becomes successful after he uses a mysterious writing software that alters reality. But, with that comes a price that he never imagined he’d have to pay.

Get to know the screenwriter:

Every one can identify with the struggle of finding your calling and living it out. This story shows what happens when we decide to do things based on our own wisdom (which can be flawed) and not relying on God’s wisdom. It asks that question, “If you had the power to do what you wanted, how would you wield that power and at what cost?” It shows what the love of a family can do to heal the wrongs of one’s actions. What is more important, family or career? Can it be both or do we tend to put one over the other for the wrong reasons.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE TALES OF BOBA FETT, 4min., USA
Directed by Benson Mckay
After a group of smugglers acquire a valuable asset, they soon realize they’re not alone. Without warning, they are being hunted by one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy.

https://youtu.be/XEfHLQy-xLk

Get to know the filmmaker:

      Boba Fett is one of those characters I feel you can do a lot with. He reminds me of Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name, there’s not a whole lot you know about him, and I think that’s what makes him so much fun. We wanted to make a movie that showcased the more brutal side of his character and show the fear and panic that occurs with those who try to oppose him.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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